CW's Top 30 Spinners: 2022 Results

[Line and Length]

Once again, I have summarised the lists by adding relevant stats to promote discussion.

Here are the results:

The List	Tests	Wickets	Average	S.R.	E.R.	W.P.M.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan	133	800	22.73	55.05	2.48	6.02
2. Shane Warne	145	708	25.42	57.49	2.65	4.89
3. Bill O'Reilly	27	144	22.60	69.61	1.95	5.33
4. Jim Laker	46	193	21.25	62.32	2.05	4.20
5. Clarrie Grimmett	37	216	24.22	67.19	2.16	5.84
6. Hedley Verity	40	144	24.38	77.59	1.88	3.60
7. Hugh Tayfield	37	170	25.91	79.81	1.95	4.59
8. Anil Kumble	132	619	29.65	65.99	2.70	4.69
9. Derek Underwood	86	297	25.84	73.61	2.11	3.45
10. Lance Gibbs	79	309	29.09	87.75	1.99	3.91
11. Ravichandran Ashwin	86	442	24.13	52.24	2.77	5.14
12. Richie Benaud	63	248	27.03	72.05	2.11	3.94
13. Rangana Herath	93	433	28.08	60.03	2.81	4.66
14. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar	58	242	29.75	65.96	2.71	4.17
15. Bishen Bedi	67	266	28.71	80.32	2.14	3.97
16. Nathan Lyon	108	427	32.16	65.53	2.94	3.95
17. Saqlain Mushtaq	49	208	29.84	67.64	2.65	4.24
18. Graeme Swann	60	255	29.97	60.19	2.99	4.25
19. Ravindra Jadeja	59	242	24.44	61.44	2.43	4.10
20. Subhash Gupte	36	149	29.55	75.73	2.34	4.14
21. Hugh Trumble	32	141	21.79	57.44	2.28	4.41
22. Wilfred Rhodes	58	127	26.97	64.81	2.50	2.19
23. Colin Blythe	19	100	18.63	45.46	2.46	5.26
24. Johnny Wardle	28	102	20.39	64.68	1.89	3.64
25. Sonny Ramadhin	43	158	28.98	88.22	1.97	3.67
26. Erapally Prasanna	49	189	30.38	75.94	2.40	3.86
27. Stuart MacGill	44	208	29.02	54.02	3.22	4.72
28. Harbhajan Singh	103	417	32.46	68.54	2.84	4.05
29. Keshav Maharaj	42	150	30.67	58.74	3.13	3.57
30. Bert Ironmonger	14	74	17.97	63.45	1.70	5.28

 

[Line and Length]

The Top 10 in the voting is clearly dominated by ATG spinners who achieve sub 25 bowling averages and plenty of wickets. Toward the end of the voting with have a number of inductees averaging over 30 with a smattering of players with impressive stats but relatively brief careers.

As with the Pace bowlers, I am listing the Top 10 averages, strike rates, economy rates and WPM. The need for the latter category was questioned but, as I expressed elsewhere, it is an indication of the importance of tha bowler to the team attack. A glance at the names on that list seem to verify this.

Top 10 Averages:
B. Ironmonger
C.Blythe
J.Wardle
J.Laker
H.Trumble
B.O'Reilly
M.Muralitharan
R.Ashwin
C.Grimmett
H.Verity

Top 10 Strike Rates:
C.Blythe
R.Ashwin
S.MacGill
M.Muralitharan
H.Trumble
S.Warne
K.Maharaj
R.Herath
G.Swann
R.Jadeja

Top 10 Economy Rates:
B.Ironmonger
J.Wardle
B.O'Reilly & H.Tayfield
S.Ramadhin
L.Gibbs
J.Laker
D.Underwood & R.Benaud
B.Bedi

Top 10 WPM:
M.Muralitharin
C.Grimmett
B.O'Reilly
C.Blythe
B.Ironmonger
S.Warne
S.MacGill
A.Kumble
R.Herath
H.Tayfield

While it is difficult to compare bowlers from different eras, for a variety of reasons, there can be no debating those worthy of ATG titles.

I was amazed that Bert "Dainty" Ironmonger didn't feature in the voting until we reached the 30th spot. His figures are excellent and the fact that he made his debut in his mid-40s is remarkable.
Who are the unlucky omissions? Abdul Qadir was pipped for the final spot. He and Daniel Vettori took plenty of wickets but, compared with most others on the list, had averages (32.81 and 34.37) that weren't overly impressive. I also feel Tony Lock was unlucky but branded as a 'chucker' (though never 'called' in a Test) sealed his fate.

I look forward to reading your opinions and views on our Top 30 Spinners (2022 voting).

 

[CricAddict]

Nathan Lyon is grossly overrated here.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Nah, Lyon being ahead of Swann is absolutely glorious

 

[Migara]

I was amazed that Bert "Dainty" Ironmonger didn't feature in the voting until we reached the 30th spot. His figures are excellent and the fact that he made his debut in his mid-40s is remarkable.
Who are the unlucky omissions? Abdul Qadir was pipped for the final spot. He and Daniel Vettori took plenty of wickets but, compared with most others on the list, had averages (32.81 and 34.37) that weren't overly impressive. I also feel Tony Lock was unlucky but branded as a 'chucker' (though never 'called' in a Test) sealed his fate.

I look forward to reading your opinions and views on our Top 30 Spinners (2022 voting).

Saeed Ajmal.

Started as a proper legit bowler and his action gradually deteriorated

 

[ankitj]

Question: why was Lance Gibbs ranked so high?

 

[Daemon]

Saeed Ajmal.

Started as a proper legit bowler and his action gradually deteriorated

Yeah, it went from 20 to 45 degrees

 

[jayjay]

Once again, I have summarised the lists by adding relevant stats to promote discussion.

Here are the results:

The List	Tests	Wickets	Average	S.R.	E.R.	W.P.M.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan	133	800	22.73	55.05	2.48	6.02
2. Shane Warne	145	708	25.42	57.49	2.65	4.89
3. Bill O'Reilly	27	144	22.60	69.61	1.95	5.33
4. Jim Laker	46	193	21.25	62.32	2.05	4.20
5. Clarrie Grimmett	37	216	24.22	67.19	2.16	5.84
6. Hedley Verity	40	144	24.38	77.59	1.88	3.60
7. Hugh Tayfield	37	170	25.91	79.81	1.95	4.59
8. Anil Kumble	132	619	29.65	65.99	2.70	4.69
9. Derek Underwood	86	297	25.84	73.61	2.11	3.45
10. Lance Gibbs	79	309	29.09	87.75	1.99	3.91
11. Ravichandran Ashwin	86	442	24.13	52.24	2.77	5.14
12. Richie Benaud	63	248	27.03	72.05	2.11	3.94
13. Rangana Herath	93	433	28.08	60.03	2.81	4.66
14. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar	58	242	29.75	65.96	2.71	4.17
15. Bishen Bedi	67	266	28.71	80.32	2.14	3.97
16. Nathan Lyon	108	427	32.16	65.53	2.94	3.95
17. Saqlain Mushtaq	49	208	29.84	67.64	2.65	4.24
18. Graeme Swann	60	255	29.97	60.19	2.99	4.25
19. Ravindra Jadeja	59	242	24.44	61.44	2.43	4.10
20. Subhash Gupte	36	149	29.55	75.73	2.34	4.14
21. Hugh Trumble	32	141	21.79	57.44	2.28	4.41
22. Wilfred Rhodes	58	127	26.97	64.81	2.50	2.19
23. Colin Blythe	19	100	18.63	45.46	2.46	5.26
24. Johnny Wardle	28	102	20.39	64.68	1.89	3.64
25. Sonny Ramadhin	43	158	28.98	88.22	1.97	3.67
26. Erapally Prasanna	49	189	30.38	75.94	2.40	3.86
27. Stuart MacGill	44	208	29.02	54.02	3.22	4.72
28. Harbhajan Singh	103	417	32.46	68.54	2.84	4.05
29. Keshav Maharaj	42	150	30.67	58.74	3.13	3.57
30. Bert Ironmonger	14	74	17.97	63.45	1.70	5.28

I just knew this would be hilarious...Kumble, 600+ wickets is below 27 test match O''Reilly who is supposedly the 3rd greatest spinner ever
Maharaj makes it into the list but Mushtaq Ahmed doesn't
Ironmonger who played in an era of wet wickets, poor balls makes it in with just 14 matches too
Swann gets himself ranked above Harby

 

[Line and Length]

I just knew this would be hilarious...Kumble, 600+ wickets is below 27 test match O''Reilly who is supposedly the 3rd greatest spinner ever
Maharaj makes it into the list but Mushtaq Ahmed doesn't
Ironmonger who played in an era of wet wickets, poor balls makes it in with just 14 matches too
Swann gets himself ranked above Harby

It simply shows that the majority of CW members have a greater awareness of players than you and your narrow minded views express. You had the opportunity to vote but didn't. Based on that you forfeited your right to comment.

 

[Coronis]

I just knew this would be hilarious...Kumble, 600+ wickets is below 27 test match O''Reilly who is supposedly the 3rd greatest spinner ever
Maharaj makes it into the list but Mushtaq Ahmed doesn't
Ironmonger who played in an era of wet wickets, poor balls makes it in with just 14 matches too
Swann gets himself ranked above Harby

For some of us its actually quality over quantity.

 

[Migara]

For some of us its actually quality over quantity.

Quantity is another quality

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

I don’t like it that Sri Lanka’s greatest finger spinner is at number 13

 

[Coronis]

Quantity is another quality

An extra 475 wickets doesn’t make up a 7 point average difference for me for a bowler. A similar decision would occur with batsmen.

Of course, a minimum sample size is required, but O’Reilly with almost 150 wickets and over 25 tests easily clears that.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Harbhajan was lucky to even make the list

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Question: why was Lance Gibbs ranked so high?

Maybe because at one point, he was the highest in the world in terms of wicket taken.

Heck, I don’t even know.

 

[Migara]

An extra 475 wickets doesn’t make up a 7 point average difference for me for a bowler. A similar decision would occur with batsmen.

Of course, a minimum sample size is required, but O’Reilly with almost 150 wickets and over 25 tests easily clears that.

Just pointed out some people giver much less wight to the number of wickets.

 

[ataraxia]

Ironmonger who played in an era of wet wickets, poor balls makes it in with just 14 matches too

ah yes, the notably sporting Australian wickets of the 20s and 30s

 

[Migara]

SR and ER has to be adjusted to the era they have played to have a proper meaning.

 

[Line and Length]

SR and ER has to be adjusted to the era they have played to have a proper meaning.

I agree the ER, as listed, favours bowlers of a particular era as is evidenced by those in the Top 10 ER list. The game was played in a less frenetic manner then.
With regard to SR, the list of Top 10 contains 2 bowlers from the turn of the last century, a handful of quite recent bowlers and 3 current players. The latter would be difficult to factor in eras.